One of the UK’s biggest Christian festivals is facing a £70,000 shortfall after its 2022 season.

Creationfest is a free event which takes place in Cornwall across four days every August.

Organisers say this year was a great success with nearly 7000 attending, 24 baptisms and 88 families making faith commitments.

However its end of festival review has shown that giving from individuals and key partners was down. Organisers are now appealing for donations from members of the public to help with the shortfall.

In a video posted on social media, Paul Worth from the Creationfest staff team said the festival now finds itself in a “place of honest need.” He says individual giving was down by 90 percent - down £20,000 on previous years.

Staff member Molly Toms said the festival is grateful for all the support from members of the public and organisations which have partnered with the event, but that there was still a deficit of £30,000 in key partnership giving this year. Many larger national organisations could not attend the festival this year, contributing to the deficit.

Against expectations and also projections from the festival café, merchandise and camping, the festival was short of another £20,000.

Molly Toms says they are now asking people to “prayerfully consider” donating :

“We know this is coming at a time when there is a cost of living crisis and fuel price rises and there are lots of challenges in our personal lives. But if you were blessed by Creationfest this Summer or in previous years, we are just asking if you could prayerfully consider if you are in a position to give.

”We truly believe God’s not done with this ministry and we can’t wait to see what he has in store in the years to come.”

Next year's event is on 4 – 7 August 2023 at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre in Wadebridge.